Birds can cause an inordinate amount of damage to a vineyard. And they can do so in many different ways. Keeping them away from grapes affords the best measure of protection. One increasingly popular pest bird deterrent is the practice of placing a physical barrier over the crop. This is also a very practical way keep birds at bay, since grapes typically grow on a trellis, which provides an ideal support for the netting.
Grape growers know that their vineyards are vulnerable to a variety of pest birds. They also know that each species of pest bird will attack their grapes differently. Blackbirds, for example, are a solitary species, that eat whole grapes. Silvereyes, on the other hand, travel in flocks and will peck at several grapes without removing them from the vines. Growers are also aware that birds of a different feather have different preferences in terms of a grape's color, sugar level, acidity, and tannin. It all depends on a particular bird's digestion and seasonal metabolism.
Another sobering fact that grape growers have become painfully aware of is that bird peck causes off-flavors in wine. In evaluating the use bird netting, many vineyard managers seen mostly concerned with crop loss. They define this as the number of dollars of grapes lost due to birds per acre. They tend to factor in only this level of loss when considering the use of bird netting. But increasing numbers of vineyard managers have come to the realization that there's more to pest bird damage than just yield loss. Birds pecking at their grapes can cost them big time. For grapes so damaged can harbor bacterial and fungal pathogens that alter the flavor of wine. The fact is, even a small amount of bird peck damage can rob a fine wine of taste, which can destroy a vintner's reputation for many years. Many growers have gone to great expense in attempting to restore the true flavor of bird-damaged grapes only to discover that off-flavors remain. They've learned the hard way that there’s simply no way to ever recapture the true flavor essence of their grapes. All the more reason to protect one's prized vineyard with professionally designed bird netting.
Bird Netting Beats Older Methods of Pest Bird Control
There are a number of old methods vintners have tried to keep pest birds from their crop. These include such "tried and true" bird deterrents as noise cannons, lethal shooting (illegal, yet regrettably, much too common), poisons and falconry. While they sound like they might work, they do little to prevent excessive crop loss. They also leave fruit vulnerable to flavor-robbing bird peck damage. In one classic example of a popular but ineffective pest bird deterrent, birds perched on noise cannons would simply fly up when they hear the solenoid switch signal and impending blast, then drop back down on the cannon as if nothing had happened. And while falconry may seem like a natural deterrent, many birds simply conceal themselves deeper in the grapevine canopy and feast on the unprotected grapes--all while falcons soar menacingly over the crop. The fact is, falcons and their handlers need to take breaks. Only bird netting provides complete, 24/7 protection from crop loss and bird peck damage.
Bird Netting Choices
Today bird repellent netting is available in many types and mesh sizes. To deter large birds like pigeons or seagulls, you should opt for a 1-1/8” to 2” mesh size net. For sparrows or starlings, there's a 3/4" mesh net that does the job nicely. The best netting usually meets ISO 1806 protocols and will hold up longer. The same holds true for U.V. stabilized, flame resistant netting. You can also get rot- and water-proof netting. This type of netting is ideal for growers since it's constantly exposed to the elements. In fact, some of the best bird netting can take some pretty wide temperature extremes--from flame resistant 250 degree F melting point to "sub-zero" temperatures.
Bird netting also comes in several colors, including white, stone and black. Some manufacturers offer resilient, knotted polyethylene bird repellent netting. You can also get netting that's extremely strong--some with burst strengths upwards of 40 pounds. These are usually backed by long guarantees--up to 10-years for some manufacturers.
When installing netting, drape the net directly over the crops or trees. For orchards or vineyards, netting should be securely anchored to an overhead structure. This allows it to completely enclose the area. One final point: bird netting should be spaced far enough from the actual vine or crop to prevent birds from sticking their beaks through to peck at the crops. Shaping and cutting netting can take some time. To save you time, some manufacturers will custom cut the netting you need.
No comments:
Post a Comment